"A new theory of plant evolution suggests that the 400 million-year drive of flora across the globe may not have been propelled by the above-ground traits we can see easily, but by underground adaptations that allowed plants to become more efficient and independent.

As plant species spread north and south from their nutrient-rich tropical beginnings, the fine tips of their roots became narrower and more widespread to help them explore increasingly poor soil for vital nutrients, according to a Feb. 21 study in the journal Nature led by researchers from Princeton University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing. In addition, as plants spread into unpredictable environments such as arid deserts they grew less dependent on the symbiotic fungi -- or mycorrhiza -- that colonize roots and help host plants obtain the essential plant nutrients nitrogen and phosphorous.

The findings reconsider how plants adapted to new environments as they evolved, said corresponding author Lars Hedin, the George M. Moffett Professor of Biology and chair and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and the Princeton Environmental Institute. Scientists have in the past focused on above-ground characteristics, primarily leaf traits and the efficiency with which plants absorb sunlight for photosynthesis, he said.

Instead, Hedin said, he and his colleagues have found for the first time that root diameter and reliance on fungi -- or the lack thereof -- are the traits that most consistently characterize the plant community across entire biomes, which are large distinct communities of animals and plants such as a desert, temperate forest or savanna.

"These are the secret strategies that plants have used over time to take over the world," Hedin said. "Our goal was to unlock the understanding of those strategies, and our findings offer a new global theory for plant evolution. Hidden underground there has been a tremendous game of survival-of-the-fittest and we are fortunate to have the first-ever view of the science of that game".

Watch The Broward County Sheriff Destroy The NRA By Calling For Gun Control: Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel looked the NRA in the eye and called for more gun control during the CNN town hall on gun violence. Video: Broward County Sheriff Steve Israel throws down on the NRA by calling for gun control. #CNNTownHallpic.twitter.com/LRFDGsOF8E — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 22, 2018 Sheriff Israel said, “First […] The post Watch The Broward County Sheriff Destroy The NRA By Calling For Gun Control appeared first on Politicus USA.

"Aside from the metaphysical benefits of sitting in silence, there are staggering physiological changes which take place throughout the body: notably in the brain.

Scientists have studied the effects of silence on the brain for several decades, but a few studies are paramount in their importance if we are to understand just how vital silence is for a human being."

Back in the late 90's and early 00's, Microsoft was very much a Linux and open-source hater. I recall clearly the talk that Ballmer gave where he called open-source a "cancer". Anyone familiar with open-source at the time likely agreed with me when I would often say that unless Microsoft embraces open-source in some way, they will fail as a company. Fortunately for Microsoft they have embraced open-source with gusto!

"Microsoft hated open source in 2001, when then-CEO Steve Ballmer called it "cancer." A year earlier, he compared it to "communism." Fast-forward to 2018 and Microsoft is now arguably the open source community's greatest champion, contributor and user. (See Microsoft Is a 'Deeply Open Source Company,' Says Azure CTO Russinovich.) Why the change? "The industry, Microsoft, and people in leadership just have a different understanding of open source now. It changes over time," John Gossman, distinguished engineer, Microsoft Azure, tells Enterprise Cloud News."

The NRA Trembles Marco Rubio Gets Booed And Called Pathetic At Gun Violence Town Hall: NRA best boy Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was called pathetic, weak, and nearly booed out of the building when he refused to support an assault weapons ban at the gun violence town hall. Rubio got confronted by Fred Guttenberg who lost his daughter in the Stoneman Douglas shooting: Marco Rubio and Trump are called pathetic […] The post The NRA Trembles Marco Rubio Gets Booed And Called Pathetic At Gun Violence Town Hall appeared first on Politicus USA.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Wine-Staging-RevivalWINE -- Wine-Staging has been a flavor of Wine popular with Linux gamers for often carrying bleeding-edge patches and other experimental work prior to being mainlined. But over two months ago, Wine-Staging went silent without any further updates. A few days ago the original maintainers announced they parted ways with the work due to lack of time and would not be issuing any new releases. Now there are new developers taking over.

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Look-up of the grand staircase inside the Rosewood Hotel at Holborn, London.

The Renaissance-style staircase rises to seven storeys and nearly 170 feet, and is made from seven rare types of marble, including Pavonazzo, Swedish Green and Statuary.

Twitter is believed to have suspended thousands of accounts for being automated bots, or for other policy violations, drawing outcry from fringe conservative media figures who lost followers in the move.

Love is one of the most amazing feelings that exist for human beings. If you feel the need to express your heartfelt feelings to your boyfriend, try using one of the following love quotes for him. --> https://bayart.org/cute-boyfriend-love-quotes-sayings-make-smile/#inspiration#motivation#change

Poor diet is the biggest cause of a weakened immune system in healthy individuals. While an all-around healthy diet is the key to stronger immunity, these 5 immune system-boosting foods can keep you in fighting condition.